More from Football

Terry - We're not to blame

Chelsea captain John Terry insists the club's senior players were not at fault for manager Andre Villas-Boas' sacking at Stamford Bridge.

Last Updated: 11/03/12 3:25pm

Chelsea captain John Terry insists the club's senior players were not at fault for manager Andre Villas-Boas' sacking at Stamford Bridge.

Blues owner Roman Abramovich parted ways with Villas-Boas last weekend after the Portuguese boss had spent just over eight months at the helm.

Problems behind the scenes are thought to have influenced his dismissal, with speculation that the 34-year-old manager's troubled relationship with Chelsea's more experienced players isolated him from the squad.

But Terry is adamant the supposed player power at Stamford Bridge does not exist and says Villas-Boas' departure was prompted purely by poor results.

He told Sky Sports: "In all clubs, when players don't play, there's always misunderstandings and people upset about not being played.

"I think because it's Chelsea, people have got this thing about the senior players have got a massive influence and I can assure you that's not the case and it hasn't been since I've been at the football club.

"All the players care about Chelsea football club, the owner certainly does. Andre was very good - unfortunately we didn't get the results."

Mistakes

He added: "Collectively, not only him, although unfortunately it falls on his head, I think the players and the manager will make mistakes together.

"We all wish him well, he's got a very good future. He's very young as well. This can be a learning experience for him and myself. I got on very well with him."

Blues striker Didier Drogba admits if he and his team-mates had done more on the pitch, Villas-Boas might still be in the job.

"These things happen and no matter what happened I think we have to give him credit," he said. "It cannot work for all of them.

"He was unlucky, the team was not in good shape. I think we, as players, could have done maybe better to change that, to avoid this happening. But that's life.